"It was during the last Olympics," Regier said. "I remember thinking in 2010, I don't know if I've ever seen this level of focus over this period of time."

That's an important observation because Miller is in an intense competition with Jonathan Quick (Los Angeles Kings), Jimmy Howard (Detroit Red Wings), Craig Anderson (Ottawa Senators) and others to be one of the U.S. goalies for the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.

The early read on Miller is he is doing all within his power to be named to the group. His .919 save percentage is tops among the primary contenders.

"Other than two games when he came a little bit off the track, he has been very, very good under difficult circumstances," Regier said.

Miller has been playing well for the NHL's worst team, which has won twice in regulation in 16 games.

"It's about his focus," Regier said. "He has narrowed his focus on his own game and making the next save and doing what he can do. It's a mature focus. There is not a lot of wasted energy. There's not a lot of wasted emotion."

Miller was the American hockey hero in 2010, leading the team to a silver medal. But since then, Quick has developed into one of the league's premier goalies, and Howard and Anderson are coming off strong seasons.

Meanwhile, Miller's Sabres are rebuilding, and his team is listening to offers for his services.

"He is in a spot where, depending upon what happens between now and June, he's a pending unrestricted free agent," Regier said. "He has the Olympics. And he didn't have quite the season he wanted last year, and I think those three things represent plenty of motivation if that is what he needed. He has been impressive."

U.S. general manager David Poile says how goalies are playing in November and December will play a big role in if they will make the team.

U.S. goalie ranking: 1. Quick, impressive body of work over the past two years. 2. Miller, playing at an eye-catching level. 3. Howard, consistency is his strong suit. 4. Anderson, not playing quite as well as last season. 5. Ben Bishop (Tampa Bay Lightning), has a .925 save percentage. 6. Cory Schneider (New Jersey Devils), always well-liked by USA Hockey. 7. Tim Thomas (Florida Panthers), great résumé, but he's hurt.

St. Louis Blues center David Backes, left, returned after missing two December games with concussion symptoms but left his last game with an upper-body injury. He has 30 points in 35 games.
Bruce Bennett, Getty Images

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Stock rising: Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk has taken another step in his development and probably is one of the favorites to make the team. He's third among U.S.-born forwards in average ice time (20 minutes, 34 seconds a game). That's more than Zach Parise (Minnesota Wild), Patrick Kane (Chicago Blackhawks) or Phil Kessel (Toronto). Van Riemsdyk is seventh among U.S.-born scorers with seven goals and six assists in 13 games. He kills penalties effectively.

Stock falling: Defenseman Dustin Byfuglien (Winnipeg Jets) seemed like an intriguing possibility last summer because of his booming shot, but he has not helped himself with his defensive play (minus 6). Plus, he doesn't have a goal.

Foreign market: Tobias Enstrom's decision not to participate in the Olympics opens a spot on Sweden's defense. Erik Karlsson (Ottawa), Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Phoenix Coyotes), Niklas Kronwall (Detroit), Alexander Edler (Vancouver Canucks), Niklas Hjalmarsson (Chicago), Jonas Brodin (Minnesota) and Victor Hedman (Tampa Bay) should have the first seven spots. Does that open a spot for Detroit's Jonathan Ericsson? He seems like a logical choice, but perhaps Chicago's Johnny Oduya is in the picture.